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Friday, October 16, 2009

Mozza 2 Go

Mozza. Probably the most talked about Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. A Hollywood blockbuster with a long list of detractors. I've eaten here once. The food was great as was the service. But I don't know if I will ever go back. Trying to get a reservation was almost as easy as getting the IRS on the phone. The clientele who populate the place could be summed up as "that lady in Prada screaming into her cell phone while changing lanes on the 405". And it ain't cheap either.

"Mozza 2 Go" poses some interesting possibilities. Food is still pricey but you get to enjoy it in the comfort of your own home, car or Hollywood Bowl concert. You can get the pizza with considerably less wait. I was at Melrose Mac the other day and decided to give it a whirl.

I still can't believe I haven't tried the pizza. I guess I'm just not crazy for pizza like I am for burgers, or braised veal like I had at my visit to Osteria Mozza. I went with the chicken panini, and as boring as that sounds it came with a very high recommendation from the girl behind the counter.

This thing cost $15. What recession? a $15 chicken sandwich? Sure! But wait, it's huge and delicious. I mean, Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton, the line cook from Peru, whoever it is that is working in that kitchen can COOK. Trust me, this thing is almost worth the $15 and I'm a broke dude.

Fork tender roasted chicken, thick cut premium bacon, ripe avocado, and a panini made by a bread master. The ingredients are top notch, the execution is flawless, you can't hate on someone making something the very best they can and then charging a premium for it. Mozza, and yes even Mozza 2 Go may not be an everyday, Hell, a once a month staple but the quality is there and when you do say goodbye to your 15 George Washingtons you can at least have the pleasure of holding this bad boy in your hand.

About Me

I'm an Urban Foodie Sherpa whose exploits have landed me in Black Book Magazine's LA dining guide, producing $24 in 24 hours and Thanksgiving Live! for Food Network and developing new shows for Alton Brown and Simon Majumdar. But my real food claim to fame is being the Chong to Food Network's Cheech: Jeff Mauro, Sandwich King and winner of Food Network Star season 7. Before Epic Meal time, there was Chef Jeff and Ali - you tube it.